Bretforton theatre barn

a letter from the general manager - 28th august

At long last, the announcement of the second half of our reopening season!

We are delighted to bring two further evenings of first class entertainment to the Theatrebarn. All new faces this time, one of them being a home grown celebrity.

Kevin Whately (Morse & Lewis) is here on Saturday 28th September with “Careful the tales you tell …”. For this evening of words and music Kevin is joined by actor Madeleine Newton and singer Kitty Whately (winner of the Kathleen Ferrier award 2011) and accompanied by Simon Lepper in a programme of songs, poetry and prose compiled especially for us. The programme will include composers from Stanford to Sondheim and songs by Howells, Horovitz and Barber plus female composers Rebecca Clarke and Judith Weir

On Saturday 26th OctoberAlistair McGowan is bringing us his latest production, “The Piano Show”. Following the surprise success of his classical music album which reached number 1 in the UK Classic Album charts, friends suggested he write a show to include the music with the comedy and impressions for which he is reknown. He said it would never work, and has been proving himself wrong ever since!

In response to your feedback, both these shows are starting earlier than they have previously. This will mean that, as the evenings close in, we can still enjoy a little daylight and the dinner will be not be quite so late. Please note that both these shows will start at 6.30 with the reception from 5.45.

The shows will be on sale Monday 2nd September, tickets cost £85. They can be purchased through our website, www.theatrebarn.org. Alternatively, tickets can be bought by phoning 01386 839663 (please leave a message if we’re not able to answer at the time and we’ll call you back) or sending a cheque made payable to ‘Theatrebarn’ to the above address. If you would like your tickets posted to you there is a charge of £1.00 to cover costs, alternatively you can collect your tickets from the Reception Desk on the evening of the performance. Payzone, our card payment service provider, were experiencing problems with processing online sales through the website. I’m told the fix for this is imminent but if you experience any problems, please just use one of the alternative methods. At the time of booking, please let me know if there are friends with whom you would like to sit and/or share a table in the restaurant and I’ll do my best to accommodate you.

We look forward to seeing you again soon.

With all good wishes

Andrew

Andrew MacduffGeneral Manager​

Historic theatre reopens with gala performance by comedy legends

One of the Midland’s (if not the country’s), rarest and most historical theatres is to reopen this weekend. The unique, yet little-known Theatrebarn in Bretforton, will open on Saturday with a gala dinner-theatre performance by Barry Cryer and Colin Sell, the self-proclaimed ‘Ant & Dec of the sanatogen set’.

Set in a magnificent grade 2* listed medieval barn, theatre in Bretforton was founded some forty years ago when James Wellman MBE (ex 617 Squadron RAF, and actor at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre), and his partner David Swift (an Escoffier trained chef), decided they wanted to run their own theatre. Dame Peggy Ashcroft gave the first performance and over the years the theatre has seen many distinguished productions, from Oscar winning actor, Paul Schofield, to local favourite Pam Ayres.

Sadly, the Theatrebarn closed when its founders became infirm and later died, but now the charitable trust they formed, has refurbished this hidden gem of a theatre and reopened it to the public.

Barry Cryer, the writer, comedian and actor who has written for many notable performers including Morecambe & Wise, The Two Ronnies, Bruce Forsyth, Rory Bremner and Tommy Cooper, together with Colin Sell, most famous for being the pianist on ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue’, will appear in “Strictly Come Joking’ this Saturday, 27th July.

Tickets and more information about the Show and the Theatrebarn, are available on the theatre’s website www.theatrebarn.org.uk or on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/theatrebarn. Bretforton is on the B4035 between Evesham in Worcestershire and Chipping Campden.

theatre to re-open its doors

After years of being "Dark" the Theatre Barn is to once again open its doors to the public. On Sunday the 23rd June there will be a one off special performance celebrating the lives of the two gentlemen who succeeded in achieving their dream of developing their own Theatre. James Wellman and David Swift were well known characters in Bretforton and it was their drive that led to the creation of this wonderful asset in heart of Bretforton.The event on Sunday 23rd is by invitation only but other shows are planned for the future and will, it is anticipated, bring something unique back to the Village.More information will follow but you can go to their website by clicking here: